Monday, July 28, 2014

Welcome Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop Fans!

I'm so excited to have been selected as a contributor for the blog at Peek-a-Boo Pattern Shop! I'll be posting one tutorial monthly for the next year, and am hard at work on my first one already. Amy was the first designer I tested a pattern for, and even before that some of the first pdf patterns I purchased were hers - I'm excited to be a part of her team! 

A in one of his many, many Grand Slam Tees

Outtakes from our photoshoots for the Cabana Swim Bottoms pattern test

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Kids Clothes Week, Days 3-7

Well, I got off to a good start, and then this happened:

"Mommy!! A crane! At our house!"
Isn't that always how it is? We replaced part of our air conditioning unit and our.entire.roof this week. It was a crazy (and expensive) week, and I'm beat. We did get to do some fun summer stuff like this:
Hang Ten Rash Guard from Peekaboo Patterns/Swashbuckler Swim Trunks from Patterns for Pirates

Hang Ten Rash Guard from Peekaboo Patterns/Cabana Swim Bottoms from Peekaboo Patterns
I did get some good work time this weekend, though, and went from having a stack of unfinished projects to having a stack of nearly-finished projects.

Exhibit A: (some of) The Nearly-Finished Projects
 Five pairs of shorts and three tees for A, three dresses for P, a couple of gifts, and a few new testing projects. If this were called Kids Almost-Finished-Clothes Week, I'd be golden. ;) Stay tuned for the finished products...

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Kids Clothes Week, Day 2

Another pattern test was at the top of the list today, and I got started super early - as in, way too late last night. ;) Couldn't help it, this was calling my name and I couldn't wait to see how it turned out. Will share photos soon, but for now, another sneak peek:
(Also) Coming soon...

The pattern from yesterday's sneak peek has been released, so I can share a few more photos now. This was my first time testing for Terra's Treasures, and it was a ton of fun. I made three versions of the Town Square dress and top during testing, as Terra worked really hard to get the fun pieced neckline just right. This pattern was like a puzzle and I loved watching all of the pieces come together. The hardest part was picking fabrics! The first version (on the left) is upcycled from an Old Navy raglan tee, and I used the sleeves from that top as the side pieces for the bodice of version 2 (the Jasmine top). Found that tee at a Disney outlet when we were on vacation a couple of months ago and it was fun to make something non-Frozen for a change. ;) Of course, when I started to pick fabrics for the third version, Miss P begged me to use a Frozen tee for that one. Such is life with a 4.5 year old, or so I've been told. 

Town Square dress and top, tester versions 1-3
The Town Square dress and top pdf pattern can be found on Etsy here.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Kids Clothes Week, Day 1

When I told him this was Kids Clothes Week, my husband laughed and said every week is Kids Clothes Week around here! I suppose he has a point, since most of my sewing is for the kids and I do try to spend time sewing nearly every day. It's for my sanity! ;) Still, I'm planning to sew along and keep up with the things on my to-do list. Most of what I've got going on this week involves pattern tests, the Peek-a-Boo clothing swap, a few UFOs (unfinished objects), and my first tutorial (eek!).

As for day 1, I can't say too much since I've been working on a handful of pattern tests this week and they're still top secret. But I can share a teeny, tiny sneak peek...see, even Miss P is being mysterious!

Coming soon...